Over 12 years' jail for rapist who claimed to be 'righteous, upright'

A 49-year-old renovation contractor who raped a woman at her home, after she contacted him to carry out repair works in her flat, was sentenced on Nov 26 to 12 years and three weeks in jail, and 13 strokes of the cane.

- Selina Lum Senior Law Correspondent

The man, Koh Lee Hwa, had claimed trial to four charges: one count of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration and two counts of outrage of modesty.

He denied that he had initiated physical contact by suddenly hugging her without her consent, insisting that he was a “righteous and upright person”.

Koh claimed that they had consensual sex after the woman made the first move by pulling his arm.

He said the sexual encounter was not rape because it took slightly over 10 minutes, which he compared with the “standard” length of time for sex between him and his wife.

Koh also claimed that the woman uttered the single word “money” as he was leaving her flat, seemingly insinuating that she was trying to get money from him.

These arguments were found to be “devoid of merit” by High Court Judge Mavis Chionh, who found him guilty of all four charges on Oct 28.

In sentencing Koh on Nov 26, Justice Chionh considered that Koh had raped the woman on her bed, violating what should have been a secure sanctuary for her.